The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-17
CoLoRADo,s CATTLE QUEENS.
Eight Hundred Women Who Own and Man
age Ranches.

Eight Hundred Women Who Own and Man.
age Ranches.
Denver fCol.) Republican.
II assure you." said promi nent cattleman to
that Of all tho failures in stockraislng made in
this Western county, not one OF them has
been made by women. You may say what you
please about the Eentler sex not being able to
rustic with the stern necessities of bread get
ting but you trust the stock women, sir, to
look after their own interests every time, and
never, to my knowledge, has one of them been
left They worth altogether several mill
ions of dollars and they have got the clearest
heads and the best judgments as regards manag-
ing stock that have ever seen displayed by
anybody.
mo, sir, never heard Of stock woman fail
ing in business yet, and don't believe you ever
unadvisedly. They know what they are doing.
and they invariably make instead of losing. If
You don't believe this you can consult all the
stock journals in the country. and they will
prove that what say to you is true"
'Are you personally acquainted with many
women engaged in the business of cattle-rais-
mgr asked the reporter.
The cattlemau gave a long, low whistle.
We'll, should think So" he said. GIVE
studied them for years. You want to know
what kind of women they are? I'll tell you
what sort they are. young man; they're ladies;
that's what they are. Now. don't mean by
that that they would be afraid of soiling their
hands if occasion required; DO, indeed; nor of
doing charitable action which would necessi-
tate some personal exposure on their part, for
they are generous to fault. What mean to
say is that they are rule refined and in tel-
gent women who read and think, and are capa-
BILE of making good appearance in society. I
cont know as have ever seen one of them who
is phenomenally intellectual, outside OF the
Judgment they exercise in the stock business.
which is phenomenal Most of them have a
genius for business and nine-tenlhs of them
know how to appear in drawing ROOM
I'm most instances they rich and know
well how to their money TO advantage
to get the most good out of life. Many of them
are wives and mothers and when they such
/ assure you they are both wise and kind. You
will find that they rule their households with
firm hands. and that their husbands and chill
dren to biblical expression, rise up and
call them blessed
81 dare say you thought that women who en-
gage in stock-raising were all centaurs. Come
now, didn't your continued the cattleman.
"Riding like the wind, half-clad, their tresses
flying behind them, and all the of it, for all
the world like picture from mythology. Con-
fess now. didn't you?
err oneous impression. Stock women much
like others, save that they have wider judgment
on practical subjects. They are thoroughly bus
iness-liKe, because they appreciate the vast in
terests which they have at stake, and the quick
conception with which all women gifted
ables them to see clearly what the inevitable
results wonld be of one false move. They know
that their decisions must be we'll weighed; that
they must act only under the most careful con-
sderation, and that once having acted they must
abide by their decision with calm, answering
spirit It is good training-school for woman.
1t takes all that idiotic nonsense about nerves
out of her and gives her brain-a cool, COM
nonsense poise which many man might envy.
'There necessarily exceptions to all rules.
The uncouth woman of the ranch, who rounds
up her herds and who sleeps in the sad
die. ID not altogether creature of the imagina-
ton. Uncouth and ignorant she may be, but
she is always a good woman and one whom all
the cowboys respect I know several instances
where these woman nan. can swlnf lara. like
q herd. A very few OF them personally super
wise their own animals. however. and these in
most instances those who have not yet
cumulated much wealth. although there
some very rich battle-woman in Colorado who
ride after their own herds. This. however. is
very unusal woman usually manages her
cattle through foreman, whom she often sup
plies with brain-power. She does not usually
live off the ranch, but rather in handsome
house in some nelehboring town. But all the
ness. Her clear head manages it all, and it is
through her directions that her foreman
always proceeds. She often spends the sum-
mer the ranch, where q comfortable dwelling
is fitted up for her, much on the order Of an
English shooting-boX.
Colorado women generally have gone into the
'through direct line of Inheritance that is.
they have inherited either small herds. vast Ones
or a taste and inclination for the life. know of
numerous instances where a father has died leav-
ing his daughter a very small herd, and she has
gone steadily on with it. making thousands where
her father before her made hundreds of dollars.
Again there arc WIDOWS VINO have come into pos
session of vast stock interests through the death
of their husbands, and who have managed the
business left them until its receipts ran away up
in the millions.
Il know resoiute women, too, who began with
out a dollar, and who have gained wealth and
standing in the stock business The most highly
novel sight ever saw was fourteen year-old
girl herding cattle away up in Montana with only
her little brother assist her. The father of these
two children had died, leaving them small herd
Of cattle, and would be willing to wnger my last
dollar that that little brown-skinned girl away up
there in that wilderness will yetcount her dollars
by the thousands OF the 800 stock now
doing business in Colorado all are we'll and favor
ably known among cattle and sheep men, any
ono Of whom would gladly beeriend them in case
Of an emergency, but whom, on the other hand.
they are quite capable of advising in many prac-
ticable matters relating to stock raising"
n DWC CHIAT